Automotive history goes back more than a century, but few people know that first self-propelled carriage with a gasoline engine appeared long before the Ford Model T or Mercedes-Benz Patent-Motorwagen. We're talking about De Dion-Bouton et Trépardoux Dos-à-Dos Steam Runabout, better known as «La Marquise» - a car that was officially recognized in 2011 the oldest running car in the world according to the Guinness Book of Records. This 1884 steam carriage is not just a museum exhibit: it is still capable of moving under its own power, covering distances at speeds up to 60 km/h - an impressive indicator for 19th-century technology.
In this article we will reveal the history of the creation of "La Marquise", we’ll talk about its technical features that were ahead of its time, and explain why today this car is rated at millions of dollars. You will also find out where the legendary car is now, how it avoided disposal and why its owners refuse offers to sell even for fabulous sums.
For collectors and historians, La Marquise cars are not just transport, but symbol of the era of steam technology, which could have changed the course of the automobile industry if not for the triumphant march of internal combustion engines. But let's figure out what makes this car so unique and why it is called the “great-grandmother” of all modern cars.
Who and when created the oldest car in the world?
The author of "La Marquise" was Count Albert de Dion is a French aristocrat, engineer and entrepreneur who, together with partners Georges Bouton and Charles Trepardou, founded the company De Dion-Bouton. It was this company that at the end of the 19th century became one of the largest car manufacturers in France, and later a supplier of engines for other brands, including Peugeot and Renault.
The design of the machine was completed in 1884, but de Dion received a patent for the steam engine back in 1883. It’s interesting that La Marquise was originally created not as a production car, but as a experimental prototype to demonstrate the capabilities of steam technology. The car received the name “La Marquise” (translated as “Marquise”) in honor of the count’s mother - Marquise de Montgomery, who, according to legend, was the first passenger of this crew.
It's worth noting that La Marquise was not the first self-propelled vehicle in history. Before him, there were steam carriages, created back in XVIII century (for example, Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot's machines of 1769), but they were bulky, unreliable and not intended for mass use. La Marquise was the first car to combine compactness, handling and the possibility of mass production - this is what sets it apart from other historical prototypes.
By the way, few people know that de Dion initially planned to equip the car electric motor, but abandoned this idea due to the low battery capacity of that time. The steam engine seemed more promising to him - and, as it turned out, for good reason.
Technical characteristics of “La Marquise”: how the steam car of 1884 works
At first glance, La Marquise looks more like a carriage without horsesthan a car in the modern sense. However, its design included a number of revolutionary solutions for that time:
- 🔥 Steam engine: Single cylinder engine 0.75 hp (about 550 W), running on kerosene. The steam pressure reached 40 atmospheres, which made it possible to reach speeds up to 60 km/h - faster than many cars of the early 20th century!
- ⚙️ Rear wheel drive: Through a chain drive (analogous to a bicycle chain), which was an innovation - previously steam engines were driven directly through the wheels.
- 🛠️ Steering: Worm drive system that allows the front wheels to turn. For comparison, many early gasoline cars did not have a steering wheel at all - the direction was changed by levers.
- 🔋 Boiler and fuel: Water boiler volume 40 liters was located in front, and the kerosene burner was located under the seat. There was enough fuel for 20–30 km ways.
- 👥 Capacity: 4 passengers (2 in front and 2 in back, back to back - hence the name Dos-à-Dos, "back to back").
One of the most interesting facts: "La Marquise" had no brakes in the modern sense. To stop, the driver simply turned off the steam supply to the engine and used hand lever, blocking the rear wheels. On the descents it was extremely dangerous - the car had to be held by physical force!
To start the engine it was necessary 15–20 minutes: first the burner was ignited, then the boiler was heated, and only after that it was possible to get under way. But in motion the car was surprisingly smooth - the steam engine did not have the vibrations characteristic of the first gasoline engines.
If La Marquise had been mass-produced, the world could have avoided “gasoline addiction”: steam cars did not require complex maintenance and were more environmentally friendly (emissions were mostly water vapor).
| Parameter | Meaning (1884) | Comparison with Ford Model T (1908) |
|---|---|---|
| Engine power | 0.75 hp | 20 hp |
| Maximum speed | 60 km/h | 72 km/h |
| Capacity | 4 people | 5 people |
| Fuel type | Kerosene + water | Gasoline |
| Start time | 15–20 minutes | 2–3 minutes (recoil starter) |
Despite its modest characteristics by today's standards, La Marquise was technical breakthrough. Its engine worked on the principle double steam expansion, which increased efficiency. For comparison: the first gasoline engines (for example, Benz Patent-Motorwagen 1886) had an efficiency of only 5–10%, while steam engines of that time reached 15–20%.
Where is La Marquise located now and how much is it worth?
Today oldest car in the world stored in private collection in the USA. Its current owner is Jim Patterson, entrepreneur and avid rare car collector. He purchased La Marquise at auction Sotheby’s in 2011 for $4.6 million - a record amount for a car of the 19th century.
Before this, the car changed several owners:
- 🇫🇷 1884–1900s: Used by the Comte de Dion for demonstration tours of Paris.
- 🇬🇧 1906–1960s: Sold to an English collector, stored in a garage without movement.
- 🇺🇸 1960–2011: Restored by an American engineer John Bentley, which returned the car to working condition.
Interestingly, before being sold at auction, “La Marquise” was held full certification as road transport in Massachusetts. This means that the car could theoretically be driven on public roads - if not for its historical value and risk of damage.
According to experts, today the market value of La Marquise exceeds 10 million dollars. However, Patterson has repeatedly stated that does not plan to sell the car. In an interview he said: “This is not just a car - it is a piece of history that should remain in motion, and not gather dust in a museum”.
Why isn't La Marquise in the museum?
Jim Patterson believes that museum storage is detrimental to steam cars: boilers rust, seals dry out. He regularly runs the engine and even participates in vintage racing to keep the car running.
⚠️ Attention: If you come across offers to sell “La Marquise” or its replicas, this is a scam. The original machine was not duplicated, and all existing copies (for example, in a museum Cité de l’Automobile in France) are modern reconstructions.
Why "La Marquise" did not become widespread: the missed chance of steam cars
Despite the revolutionary nature of the design, steam cars never became widespread. Main reasons:
- Long startup: 15–20 minutes to warm up the boiler versus 2–3 minutes for gasoline engines.
- Explosion hazard: High pressure boilers sometimes exploded (although this was prevented at La Marquise thanks to a safety valve system).
- Competition with gasoline engines: After the invention of the carburetor (1893), gasoline cars became easier and cheaper to produce.
- Infrastructure: Steam engines required special refills with kerosene and water, while gasoline could be bought at any pharmacy (yes, that’s where it was sold in the 19th century!).
By the 1910s, steam cars had almost disappeared from the market, replaced by gasoline and diesel cars. The last mass-produced steam car was Stanley Steamer (USA), which was produced before 1924. It's interesting that in 1906 steam Stanley Rocket set a world speed record - 203 km/h, which has not been beaten by gasoline cars until 1910!
Experts believe that if not oil lobby early 20th century, steam cars would dominate until the 1950s. They were quieter, more environmentally friendly and more reliable than the first gasoline engines. But history turned out differently...
Steam cars could avoid the “climate crisis”: their emissions are mostly water vapor, and the fuel could be not only kerosene, but also biomass or alcohol.
How La Marquise escaped disposal: a rescue story
By the beginning of the 20th century, “La Marquise” was forgotten: after the death of Comte de Dion in 1946 the car passed from hand to hand until it was in disassembled condition in the garage of one of the English collectors. K 1960s All that remained of it was the frame, the boiler and part of the body - the remaining parts were lost or replaced.
I took up rescue John Bentley, American engineer and vintage car enthusiast. He bought the remains of La Marquise in 1963 and spent 7 years for restoration:
- 🔧 Recreated steam engine according to de Dion's original drawings (found them in the Paris archive).
- 🎨 Restored body from ash wood, using photographs from the 1880s.
- 🔥 Replaced the kerosene burner with gas (for safety), but retained the original steam system.
Bentley not only brought the car back to life, but also proved its functionality: in 1978 "La Marquise" passed 200 km on the route London-Brighton without breakdowns. This fact became key when certifying the machine as oldest working in the world.
Today, the original details in La Marquise comprise about 60% — the rest was restored or replaced with analogues. However, this does not detract from its historical value: as an auction house expert said Bonhams>, «Even if only one screw remained from the car, its cost would be in the millions».
⚠️ Attention: If you want to restore a vintage steam car, please note: the original high-pressure boilers (as in La Marquise) require special permission for use in many countries. In the EU and the USA, such machines are equivalent to industrial steam boilers and are subject to annual inspection.
Where else can you see vintage cars: top 5 museums in the world
If La Marquise is not available for viewing (its owner rarely displays the car in public), you can see other legendary examples in these museums:
- 🇫🇷 Cité de l'Automobile (Mulhouse, France): World's largest car collection Schlumpf - from steam to racing cars. There is a replica of "La Marquise" and the original Benz Patent-Motorwagen 1886.
- 🇺🇸 Henry Ford Museum (Dearborn, USA): Exhibited Ford Model T 1908, as well as steam cars Stanley and Locomobile.
- 🇩🇪 Deutsches Museum (Munich, Germany): The original is kept here Daimler Reitwagen 1885 - the first motorcycle with a gasoline engine.
- 🇬🇧 National Motor Museum (Bocking, UK): Collection includes Rolls-Royce the beginning of the 20th century and rare steam omnibuses.
- 🇷🇺 Museum of Retro Cars (Moscow, Russia): You can see here Russo-Balt 1912 - the first Russian production car.
Many museums offer interactive excursions, where you can not only look at rarities, but also sit behind the wheel vintage cars (eg. Cité de l’Automobile there are driving simulators Benz Patent-Motorwagen).
If you are planning to visit such a museum, check out:
Book your ticket in advance (many museums limit the number of visitors)
Check the days when vintage car launches take place
Bring a camera (some museums do not allow flashes)
Check if the audio guide is in Russian -->
FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the oldest car in the world
Is it possible to buy La Marquise and how much will it cost?
No, the original La Marquise is not for sale. Its current owner, Jim Patterson, refuses even offers for $20+ million. However you can order exact replica at specialized workshops (for example, Steam Car Developments in the UK). The cost of such a copy is from 500 thousand dollars, and the production time is 2–3 years.
Why is La Marquise considered a car and not a steam locomotive or carriage?
By definition car, adopted in the 19th century, is self-propelled vehicle, designed to transport people on roads. "La Marquise" meets all the criteria:
- Has own engine (does not require horses or external power source).
- Managed driving (and not with reins or levers, like on steam locomotives).
- Designed for traffic (not for rails or water).
Steam locomotives and carriages do not fit this definition, since the former move on rails, and the latter require horse traction.
What other steam cars have survived to this day?
In addition to La Marquise, the following are in working order:
- Stanley Steamer Model F (1906, USA) - about 50 copies.
- Locomobile Model C (1904, USA) - 12 copies.
- Brozetti Steam Car (1890, Italy) - the only one preserved.
Most are in private collections, but are occasionally featured in retro racing, e.g. London to Brighton Veteran Car Run (an annual event for cars until 1905).
Is it possible to legally drive a steam car today?
Yes, but with reservations:
- B Europe steam cars are equivalent to historical vehicles. They require special registration and inspection of the boiler every 2 years.
- B USA rules vary by state. For example, in California, steam engines prohibited due to strict environmental regulations, and in Texas they can be registered as "antique".
- B Russia It is almost impossible to legally operate a steam car: it will have to be certified as self-propelled car, which requires approval from Rostechnadzor.
Please check your local laws before purchasing - some countries (eg UK) issue temporary numbers to participate in retro events.
Is it true that steam cars are more environmentally friendly than gasoline cars?
Yes, but with nuances:
- ✅ Pros: The emissions of a steam car are mostly water vapor and carbon dioxide (CO₂). There are no harmful nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) or soot.
- ❌ Cons: Kerosene or coal used to heat the boiler still releases CO₂ when burned. However, its quantity in 3–5 times lessthan a gasoline engine of the same power.
- 🌱 Modern analogues:biofuel (eg wood pellets) that could become completely carbon neutral.
According to MIT estimates, if steam cars had developed in parallel with gasoline cars, their efficiency today could be as high as 30% (versus 20–25% for internal combustion engines).